21 Aib 2011, 12:53
The Count for the election of 43 Members from the five panels to Seanad Éireann will take place in the Members’ Restaurant at Leinster House. The poll will close at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 26 April 2011. Opening of the ballot boxes will take place immediately after the poll closes. The preliminary checking of declarations of identity, etc will take 2-3 hours and the count for the first panel – the Cultural and Educational Panel – should commence about 2pm.
The panel count will take place in the following order: Cultural and Educational Panel; Agricultural Panel; Labour Panel; Industrial and Commercial Panel; and Administrative Panel.
When each Member is elected, the result will be posted on www.seanadcount.ie and tweeted on @oireachtasnews. When each panel is complete, a press release will issue providing details of each member elected.
To attend the Seanad election count, you must be accredited to attend briefings in Leinster House. To arrange accreditation for the event or for further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
E: ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Notes to the editor:
1. Under Article 18.8 of the Constitution a general election for the Seanad must take place not later than 90 days after dissolution of the Dáil. The Seanad is comprised of 60 members, 11 of which are nominated by An Taoiseach. The remaining 49 seats are contested in a general election – 43 seats by way of an election for panel members with members of the Dáil, the outgoing Seanad, and members of city and county councils qualified to vote and 3 seats by way of an election for university members from the National University of Ireland and 3 seats by way of an election for university members from the University of Dublin (Trinity College).